Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

Trump Unveils Seven-Point Health Care Plan, But Details Remain Vague

The GOP front-runner's proposals mostly fall in line with what other Republicans have offered -- including revamping Medicaid to be a block grant program and selling insurance across state lines. But his plan to allow prescription drug imports is more akin to what Democrats advocate.

Politico:
Trump Releases Plan For Replacing Obamacare
Donald Trump unveiled a batch of health care policy proposals Wednesday after facing criticism for failing to provide a credible plan for replacing Obamacare. On the eve of the next GOP debate, the front-running real estate mogul advanced several ideas that align with many conservative proposals to replace the health care law. He calls for Medicaid to be transformed into a state block grant program and for the tax exemption on employer-based health insurance plans to be extended to individuals who purchase coverage on their own — both longstanding GOP ideas. Trump would also allow prescription drugs to be imported and for full transparency of health care pricing, although he offered few details about how that — or any of the proposals — might work. (Demko, 3/2)

Reuters:
Republican Trump Releases Healthcare Proposals
The plan also calls for the sale of health insurance plans across state lines, full deduction of health insurance premiums from income tax and adds: "We must also make sure that no one slips through the cracks simply because they cannot afford insurance." (Walsh, 3/3)

Bloomberg:
Trump's Health-Care Plan Includes Obamacare Repeal, Drug Re-Importation
The seven-point plan posted on the Republican presidential front-runner's website Wednesday includes a repeal of Obamacare and six ideas for a replacement: allowing insurers to sell plans across state lines; permitting tax deductions for individual health-care plans; tax-free health savings accounts that can become part of an estate; "price transparency" from health-care providers; and sending Medicaid funds as grants to states. (Kapur, 3/2)

STAT:
Trump Would Allow Importing Drugs To Lower Health Care Costs
Donald Trump released a health care plan late Wednesday that includes common Republican ideas for replacing Obamacare but departs from conventional GOP policies in one major way: it would allow the reimportation of cheaper drugs from overseas. It’s the second time that Trump, now the clear front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, has embraced an idea to bring down drug costs that’s associated more with Democrats like Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders than with the party he’s trying to lead. (Nather, 3/2)

ABC News:
Donald Trump Releases Healthcare Reform Plan
Donald Trump finally laid out his healthcare reform plan Wednesday, explaining how he plans to repeal and replace Obamacare -- a campaign talking point of his for several months that’s been vague on specifics. The seven-point health care reform plan was released one day after winning seven GOP primaries, and a day ahead of the Republican debate in Detroit. (Caplan, 3/2)